Pekin investigates business/apartment fire

PEKIN — Arson is blamed for a fire that heavily damaged a two-story building last month at 2218 Court St.

The building that housed Greg’s Garage Doors and apartments caught fire about 9:30 p.m. April 2. Three residents escaped unharmed, but the business had to move into a vacant building next door.

In a news release Wednesday, Pekin’s police and fire departments said evidence at the scene indicated the fire was deliberately set. The news release did not say what started the fire, which remains under investigation by the police and fire departments and the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

A Fire Department official said last month at least one of the residents might have been saved when someone banged on the doors to alert him as the flames spread.